Textile and Fashion Arts

The first item acquired for the Museum’s collection of textile and fashion arts was an Irish embroidery, purchased in 1888. Today, the collection comprises approximately 7,000 items and represents virtually all of the world’s traditions in fabric. Major collecting in this area began in 1906, with the purchase of 100 Chinese textiles and costumes.

Among the objects from Asia are textiles and costumes from China; kimonos and Buddhist robes and furnishings from Japan; Kashmir shawls; ceremonial hangings from India and a large group of textiles from Indonesia. West and Central Asian holdings include: rugs and kilims from Iran, Ottoman embroideries from Turkey, and costumes and ceremonial textiles from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. In 1996, the late Colonel Jeff W. Boucher’s collection of 65 Baluchi rugs and weavings was donated to the Museum. Later, this collection was augmented by eleven pieces, making it the largest and most comprehensive in the United States.

The IMA also houses a significant African textile arts collection, with a particular concentration in rugs, costumes and embroideries from Morocco.

European holdings feature silks from the late 16^th to 19^th centuries, a lace collection spanning 500 years and a large group of 19^th century paisley shawls woven in England. Also represented, are European fashions dating from the late 18^th to the 20^th centuries, as well as couture by prominent designers such as Dior, Balenciaga, Chanel, Gaultier and Versace.

The North American textile collection features noteworthy Indiana quilts and coverlets, as well as fashions by designers Norman Norell, Bill Blass, and Halston, and the legendary Rudi Gernreich. Central American holdings include Guatemalan textiles and a significant collection of about 360 Panamanian Molas.

Highlights of the Textile and Fashion Arts Collection

Ming dynasty | Bodhisattva of Wisdom (Mañjusri)

Unknown | Gatherings of groups of immortals

Tibetan | Rug

Meiji | gift cover (fukusa)

Middle Edo | Coverlet shaped like a kimono (yogi)

Indian | patola sari

Southeast Asian | bed cover; palampore

Indonesian | woman's ceremonial skirt (lau hada)

Indonesian | woman's ceremonial skirt; tapis

Persian | rug

rug; mafrash side panel

prayer rug; kilim

Uzbek people | ceremonial cover

Uzbek | ceremonial hanging (suzani)

Baluchi people | pillow (balisht)

Baluchi people | prayer rug

Yoruba people | Egungun masker's garment

Asante people | man's wrapper; kente

Berber | tent entrance hanging

African; Moroccan | wall hanging (haiti)

Moroccan | kaftan

Italian | chasuble

woman's apron

English | dress

Designer Worth, Charles Frederick | Imperial Russian court dress

shawl

Designer Morris, William | furnishing fabric; "Honeysuckle"

Designer Lanvin, Jeanne | evening dress (robe de style)

Designer Dior, Christian | evening dress

Designer Franco Moschino | suit

Unknown | Eli Lilly Family Quilt

Bes-Ben | hat (dogs)

Designer Norell, Norman; Manufacturer Anthony Traina | ball gown

Designer Gernreich, Rudi | dress

Designer Halston | evening dress

Paracas culture | burial wrapper with supernatural beings

Mexican | man's poncho; serape

Kuna Indians | shirt panel (mola)

Jon E. Riis | Greed

Anatsui, El | Duvor (communal cloth)

Sonya Clark | Two Trees (hat)

Kay Sekimachi | Bird's Nest Basket

IMA Quilt Collection

The first quilt in the collection of the Indianapolis Museum of Art was bequeathed in 1925. The collection has since grown to include over 60 outstanding examples from North America. In 2003, a donation of 13 quilts from Lincoln Financial Group further enhanced the collection.
The IMA is home to a significant collection of Marie D. Webster quilts and houses a substantial collection of Indiana quilts. The IMA’s collection represents a variety of quilting techniques, such as appliqué, piecework, embroidery, white-on-white and wool wholecloth.

Many of the IMA’s quilts were exhibited in Stitch by Stitch: A Quilt Potpourri.
View Exhibition Brochure

Highlights of the IMA Quilt Collection

American | quilt top; 'Mosaic'

American | quilt

American | quilt; 'Delectable Mountains'

Amish | quilt; 'Sawtooth Diamond in Square'

American | quilt; 'Stars & Eagle'

American; English | quilt; 'Framed Medallion'

Victoriene P. Mitchell | crazy quilt

American | quilt; 'Princess Feather'

American | quilt; "Roman Stripe"

American | quilt

Amish | quilt; 'diamond in square'

Unknown | Eli Lilly Family Quilt

Backinstos, Catherine | quilt

American | quilt, Bow Tie

American | quilt, Connecting Stars

American | quilt, Log Cabin (Courthouse Steps)

American | quilt, Drunkard's Path

American | quilt, Eagles

American | quilt, Log Cabin (Barn Raising)

American | quilt, Log Cabin (Straight Furrows)

Amish people | quilt, Nine Patch

American | quilt, Oak Leaves

American | quilt, Pomegranate

Irene Williams | Gee's Bend quilt, "Housetop" variation with "Postage Stamp" center row

Mazloomi, Carolyn | I've Got an Ace Up My Sleeve

Crow, Nancy | Chinese Souls #2

Marie D. Webster Quilt Collection

Marie Daugherty Webster (1859-1956) was one of the leading quilt designers of the 20^th-century. An artist, author and entrepreneur, Webster was considered one of the foremost authorities on quilts and quilt making.

In 1909, Webster designed her first appliqué quilt at the age of 50. Rejecting the popular over-decorated and cluttered aesthetic of the late Victorian period, Webster found inspiration in nature, creating patterns based on flowers and plants. By combining her original patterns with fine workmanship she achieved designs of outstanding aesthetic quality. In the years 1911, 1912 and 1915 her unique quilts appeared in Ladies Home Journal, which brought her international fame.

The IMA has 12 Webster quilts designed and/or made by the artist, in addition to 11 quilts on loan from the family of Marie Webster, as well as 13 original patterns.

The Webster Collection was exhibited at the Indianapolis Museum of Art from March 24 through September 30, 1991, in Marie Webster Quilts: A Retrospective. The exhibition traveled to the Museum of American Folk Art, New York City, the Spencer Museum of Art, Lawrence, Kansas and the American Museum of Quilts and Textiles, San Jose, California.
In 1998, a Marie Webster quilt exhibition also traveled to Tokyo, Kobe, Nagoya and Kukuoka, Japan.

View Exhibition Brochure

Marie D. Webster

July 19, 1859- Born in Wabash, Indiana
1911- Four of her quilts appeared in Ladies Home Journal in full color. This was the first time the magazine published quilts in color.
1915- Marie Webster wrote Quilts, Their Story and How to Make Them. It was the first book on the history of quilts and quilt making. Since its’ debut, the book has been reissued several times.
1915- Invited to submit information for the publication, Who’s Who in America
1920s- Established the Practical Patchwork, Co., an international mail order business. The first of its’ kind, the company sold Webster designed quilts, quilt making kits and patterns.
August 29, 1956- Marie Webster died in Princeton, New Jersey